Chapter 16 - Noah's Code
Three. Zero. Two.
Daniel knew exactly what Noah meant.
The old study passage had another exit through basement storage cabinet 302.
Julian believed the children were trapped in the living room.
Noah knew a way out.
Daniel kept his face blank.
"What do you want?"
Julian answered through the speakers.
"Bring Claire's original trust key and the blue-star bracelet to the river warehouse."
"The bracelet is evidence."
"Then steal it. You've stolen my company from me."
Claire stepped toward the microphone.
"It was never your company."
Julian's smile appeared on-screen again.
"Claire. Still difficult."
"Still alive."
Daniel almost smiled.
Morris sent officers toward the house through a route away from visible roads.
On the live feed, Noah slowly shifted closer to Lily.
The masked man looked away.
Noah moved.
He kicked over a lamp.
Darkness filled the room.
Lily screamed on purpose.
Then the feed went wild.
A door slammed.
Julian shouted, "What happened?"
The picture disappeared.
Daniel's phone rang thirty seconds later.
Maya.
"They're in the passage!"
Daniel closed his eyes.
Alive.
"Get them out through 302."
"Already moving."
At the house, Noah led Lily through the narrow corridor Claire had once used to hide evidence.
The masked kidnapper found the bookcase open and followed.
But Maya knew the old mechanism.
She pulled a steel maintenance lever.
A fire door dropped between sections.
The kidnapper slammed into it.
Police arrested him minutes later.
His name was Marcus Vale, a private security contractor who worked for Julian.
Noah and Lily were safe.
But Julian did not know that yet.
Daniel looked at Morris.
"We use the warehouse meeting."
Claire shook her head.
"He knows you're working with police."
"He doesn't know the kids escaped."
She understood.
"So we let him think he still has leverage."
Daniel nodded.
Then Evelyn said quietly:
"There's something else you need to know about the river warehouse."
"What?"
"Your father built a private records vault underneath it."
Daniel stared.
May you like
Evelyn swallowed.
"And Julian has spent five years trying to get inside."
